The Department of Health has written (PDF) to NHS colleagues to advise that the vaccine used to provide the national human papilloma virus (HPV) immunisation programme will change from September 2012.

The current vaccine Cervarix® will continue to be used for the current academic year but with effect from September 2012 the vaccine used will change to Gardasil®. This change follows a competitive tendering exercise which included an updated cost effectiveness analysis of HPV vaccines carried out by the Health Protection Agency.

Action: Clinicians should be aware of this announcement and the expected change in vaccine.